Help with my 29g BC!

[walnuts24]

Just got my biocube a couple of days ago. Went to the LFS yesterday and got 30 gallons of RO water to put in to the tank. I have a couple of questions about the system/setup.

1. I noticed that a lot of people complain about the cooling fans being too loud but to me it isn't an issue, however, I am finding the stock pump to be very loud. I am not sure if I do not have it set up right or does everybody have this issue. I just put it in the bottom of the chamber using the suction cups. But the picture to put it together seems like it should be attatched to that sponge filter, which mine isn't.

2. I got 6 buckets of RO water (30 gal) to fill my tank but it only seemed to take 4.5 buckets (about 24 gal). Is this normal?

3. I ordered a Koralia Nano (425 model) powerhead and got the BioCube Protein Skimmer. Are there any other Mods that you think are necessary? I am planning on using the stock lighting and just keeping soft corals and fish in my tank.

4. When can I put in the live sand? I have mixed the salt and the SG is around 1.023

Thanks

 

[kingfisher62]

[welcome]

I have not noticed my pump being loud. Is it the pump or the gurgling of water?

The sponge is not attached to the pump.

I have never actually measured the water but I do not go by the fill line on the left side.
That fill line is setup for when you are using wet/dry bioballs so the back chamber will be lower and the water trickles over the balls just keeping them wet.
How low is the water in the pump chamber?
Are you using The bioballs?
I do not use them, they can tend to become nitrate factories over time.

The only mods that I have done was to remove the false bottom of the chamber on the right so I could fit my heater in there. I also do not use the filter cartridges. They are way to expensive. Just put a small wad of poly filter filter floss on the drip tray where the water flows into the second chamber and then replace every 5 days or so. I have never used a proein skimmer in my nanos , I just kept up with the water changes.
Although I did get one of those Nano-glo refugium lights so I can grow chaeto in the middle chamber.My last mod was to build a media tray out of eggcrate so I can put a bag of chemical filtration media under the drip tray.

Once the temp is at the right level and the salt is fully mixed you can add the sand. Remember when you add the sand it will displace water so be careful of flooding.

 

[ange062]

My NC28 only took 22 gal to fill, but I added sand/LR before filling so that displaced quite a bit. If you are filling an empty tank I would expect it to be very close to what it's rated if you have the back chamber filled to the correct level.

+1 on adding the sand, you should be good to go and watch out for water overflow.

IMO, it's hard to quantify what tank upgrades you will need. It really depends on what you plan to keep. I say stick with what you have, let the tank cycle, then slowly start adding livestock. You can slowly modify to accommodate your needs over time (and it makes it easier financially).

 

[smokinsarge]

I have the 14 and I think that a good upgrade would be the media basket. I am going to get one for my 14. I have heard that the bio balls can be a pain.

 

[fish77]

When I first got my biocube 29 I noticed my pump being loud too,what I did to solve this was I brought a sponge from the LFS and cut a hole the size of my pump then put the pump in. With this solution I noticed a decrease in the noise from the pump, and I only rinse out the sponge with pump cleaning.

I think the biocube skimmer is not good (IMO) I had this skimmer and was not happy. I popped out the false floor in the first chamber and brought a AquaticLife mini 115 skimmer and so far it has worked out for me.

hope this helps

-Fish77

 

[Tschupe]

Don't mean to hijack your thread. But I just set up my 29.
Kingfisher- I stopped filling mine when it reached the max line
Your saying I should fill it all the way up?

 

[sponger0]

Fill it up as much as your comfortable with. But fill up the rear chambers. Cut away the wall between chamber one and two. Like kingfisher62 said, build a media basket out of eggcrate. A sheet of it is only $12 and you can cut it with wire cutters. But when I did that I made a barrier for a fish saver and also a top section to put filter floss and filter out waste from the water.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2007747

The Auqatic life 115 skimmer I have also and works alot better than the Biocube one but it is heating up my tank a bit too high so Im going to get some SilenX fans and replace those in the hood and see if it will lower my temps.

 

[sponger0]

Also, check out Nano-Reefs.com They have tons of info on Biocubes. But there is still plenty to learn here too They just cater to nano tanks

 

[kingfisher62]

I tried Nano-Reefs.com for a while but they do not compare to this site. Much more activity here.

 

[Coastie5685]

I think that the middle chamber should eventually have chaeto with light. But that's further down the road when you bio builds up. Chaeto feeds off nitrates.

Bioballs removed

I managed to fit a maxi jet it the first chamber to run my phosgene reactor. Turned a plenn plax? heater sideways and placed it at the bottom of chamber two.

Chamber three always filled high. All three chambers leveled.

 

[sponger0]

I tried Nano-Reefs.com for a while but they do not compare to this site. Much more activity here.

There is definately more activity on this site, but as far as specific information for a biocube, there is alot more, but you have to look for it. Asking questions, they tend not to respond very fast

 

[Mbachota]

I have a maxijet 1200 in mine and I cant hear it. I have live rock and chaeto with a light in mine. My fans are not loud at all maybe at start up but that goes away. The only thing I dont like is that the moonlights went out on mine for some reason.